GIANT BIRDS. 
231 
only at low water, situated on the south-eastern shore of the 
Middle Island. This collection also was purchased by the 
trustees for the sum of ^130. Mr. Walter Mantell, who described 
this locality, near Waikouaiti, seventeen miles north of Otago, 
thinks it was originally a swamp or morass, in which the New 
Zealand flax once grew luxuriantly. The appearance and position 
of the bones are similar to those of the quadrupeds embedded in 
peat-bogs, as, for instance, the great Irish elk (see next chapter). 
They have acquired a rich umber colour, and their texture is firm 
and tough. They still contain a large proportion of animal 
matter. Unfortunately, even when Mr. Walter Mantell visited 
this spot, the bed containing the bones was rapidly diminishing 
from the inroads of the sea, and perhaps by this time is entirely 
washed away. Mr. W. Mantell, however, obtained fine specimens 
and feet of a large Moa-bird (Dinornis) in an upright position ; 
and there seems to be little doubt that the unfortunate bird was 
mired in the swamp, and perished on the spot. 
The bones which he obtained from the North Island presented 
a different appearance, being light and porous, and of a delicate 
fawn-colour. They were embedded in loose volcanic sand. 
Though perfect, they were as soft and plastic as putty, and 
required most careful handling. They were dug out with great 
care, and exposed to the air and sun to dry before they could 
- be packed up and removed. 
The natives were a great source of trouble to him, for as 
soon as they caught sight of his operations they came down in 
swarms — men, women, and children, trampling on the bones 
he had laid out to dry, and seizing on every morsel they could 
get. The reason of this was that their cupidity and avarice 
had been excited by the large rewards given by Europeans in 
search of these treasures. Mixed with the bones he found 
fragments of shells, and sometimes portions of the windpipe, 
or trachea. 
One portion of an egg which he found was large enough to 
